Dear fellow swimmers
Temperatures dropping fast
This time last week, it was 13 degrees in the water at my local swimming spot. On Friday morning, it was 7.6. That’s a very
noticeable - and breath-taking - difference.
If you use an inland swimming spot in the UK, it’s likely that the water temperature will have dropped significantly over the past few days. If you’re still swimming outside, this increases your risk of cold water shock and decreases how long you can safely stay in the water.
As ever, pay attention to the conditions and your surroundings. And if you’re planning to swim through the depths of winter, make sure you’re fully informed.
On that subject, check out our next online event: Ice Swimming – Insight, Inspiration and Guidance.
Celebrating the Thames
Early this week, I was lucky enough to be invited to the House of Lords to celebrate the revival of an old swimming event, which first took place in the Thames in 1877. The mission to revive the Lords and Commons Thames Swimming Cup is being led by Olympic marathon swimmer Toby Robinson and championed by Lord Bethell. The vision is for a current assisted 10km swim from Richmond to Fulham, for both elite and recreational swimmers.
Keep an eye on the Lords and Commons Cup website for details as they emerge.
Toby Robinson was also part of a team of elite swimmers who swam the length of the non-tidal Thames this summer with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). SAS has produced a 20-minute film about the swim and the vision behind it – and it’s being screened in Windsor next Wednesday. It will be followed by a Q&A with SAS and some of the swimmers. A small number of tickets are available here.
Strava Swimming Art
If you enjoy tracking your swims and creating interesting images with your Strava tracks, take a look at what Harri Kytömaa has done.
See: Next level Strava Swimming Art
Kendal Mountain Festival
This weekend Editor, Ella Foote is at Kendal Mountain Festival. Ella is hosting the outdoor swimming session on Saturday where she invites swim-guests onto the stage and interviews them live. The world premier of Swim Sistas, starring Alice Dearing, will be screened during
the session as well as Hector Pardoe's documentary King of the Lakes. On Sunday, Ella will be interviewing author Emma Simpson about her book, Breaking Waves, as part of the literature part of the festival. Ella will have Outdoor Swimmer magazines with her and would love to meet readers and subscribers - do say hello if you see her!
Our December
issue is on the way
We sent our December issue to the printer on Thursday. If you're a subscriber, look out for deliver from next weekend. If you're not, get your copy here:
